Opelousas Police Getting Body Cams; Training Now

OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow says his officers are being trained to use body cameras, and should be wearing them in about a week.

Gallow tells The Daily World that he decided to act now partly because of grand jury decisions not to indict police officers in deaths in Ferguson, Missouri, and in New York City.

He says people don't trust law enforcement the way they used to.

The department's buying 30 of the $400 cameras. All officers will wear them.

Officer Romalis Thomas was one of the first to be trained to use a body camera. He says he loves it.

Thomas says he thinks it will help solve crimes and will put both officers and the public on their best behavior because they'll know they're being videotaped.